Cover for containers



Oct. 27, 1936. I R DA 2,058,608

COVER FOR CONTAINERS Filed NOV. 13} 1935 Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to covers for crates and containers, and particularly to adjustable sections thereof, and fasteners therefor.

In the transportation and sale of fruit and farm produce, it is generally necessary to remove the entire covers of all forms of containers therefor, in order to view the contents, and see the condition thereof as for passage of such produce across State limits and into public markets.

In the use of the ordinary crates, baskets, and other containers, it is customary to nail or otherwise firmly fasten the tops and covers thereof for rigidity and in order to prevent the spilling and loss of such produce.

15 Again when it becomes necessary to inspect the contents such covers must be forcibly removed and generally with tools which damage such covers, and otherwise cause delay and difficulty in reattaching such covers.

20 It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide a fixed cover with an adjustable and removable panel over a central window space thereof. In the use whereof the-outer edges of the covers may be rigidly attached, and leave 25 such panels to be easily moved to provide suitable inspection of the contents.

Another object is to provide adjustable fasteners, for retaining such panels in closed position, and which may be manually detached to 30 permit the opening of such panels, and the refastening thereof, without special tools therefor, and without injury to the fasteners or crates.

With these and other objects that will hereinafter appear, I have illustratively exemplified 35 my invention by the accompanying drawing of which Figure 1 shows a perspective end view of a crate, with an adjustable panel, and a latch clip for attachment and detachment,

40 Figure 2 shows a perspective side view of the two ends of similar crate with a movable panel, but such panel differently mounted,

Figure 3 shows a sectional fragmentary view of such crates, and a wedge for binding the panel 40 in closed position on a crate,

Figure 4 shows a detail view of one of the latch clips, and means of attaching the same to one end of a panel,

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a basket 50 form of container, with an attached cover, and an adjustable panel therewith, and latch means for attaching such panel manually,

Figure 6 shows a perspective detail view of a fragment of such basket and an adjustable bail 55 for connection with a latch,

Figure '7 shows a sectional view of a fragment of a basket and panel with a latch and bail and method of connecting the same.

Like numerals on the different figures represent like parts. Number I represents the ends of an 5 ordinary fruit crate, 2 the sides thereof, and 3, 3 two outer sections ofcover with a relatively narrow window space between the sections. These sections are rigidly attached to the respective ends as by nails or screws 5' driven into the 10 box ends and through the cover section ends and through reinforcing and abutment cleats 5 and spacing bolsters 6. The bolsters are shorter than the width of said sections, and thereby leave the inner edges 3 of the latter which are flexible, free to be raised on an angle into the space 1 above, as seen in Figure 1.

A central cover section or panel 4 is slidably positioned with its outer edges beneath the upraised edges of the side sections, and normally retained in fixed position thereby, with the ends thereof under the two cleats, during transportation. When necessary for inspection purposes, the operator inserts a finger, or tool, into an aperture 8, provided therefor and for ventilation, and withdraws the panel and views the contents l4. A handle clip 9 may be attached to one end of the panel, for convenience.

0n the opposite end of the panel, a latch clip In of pliable material is attached, with a point protruding beyond the panel. When the panel is closed, this point is turned upward at right angles and binds against the outer edge of the adjoining abutment cleat and so normally retains the panel in such closed position. For transportation purposes, it is sometimes advisable to insert a wedge l I into the space between the ends of the panel and the cleats above.

It will be understood that the operator may manually release the clip In, and the wedge when necessary to slide open the panel for inspection, and again close and attach the panel when inspection is completed.

As the panel sections and covers of such crates and containers are thin and easily split it is 5 necessary that special means for attaching the clips be provided. I have illustrated such means in Figure 4 with prongs l I extended through and clinched beneath the boards, and shorter outside prongs I2, for preventing the board from splitting.

In Figure 2 an additional latch means for maintaining the panel closed is shown as a nail l3, driven into the end board I, and bent to provide a movable end latch. In Figure 2 is also similar to parts. 24' and 25.

the sliding panel to a modified form.

Numeral l5 represents any form of basket for marketing produce, formed of upright staves, and

an outside hoop l6 around the top, and a simi-' lar hoop inside, the three parts being connected by staples l6 or other suitable means.

A permanent cover is preferably constructed with two courses of thin boards. The lower course of outside boards |8 extend across the top and the intermediate boards terminate with their inner ends l8 spaced apart for anopening |9, through which the contents as may be inspected. The upper course is formed of two outside boards 2|, afiixed across the lower course and spaced apart wider than the opening between the ends |8. The inside edges of said boards 2| are sloped to provide a dovetail mortice 2| or guide way, for a movable panel 22. The edges of the latter are formed as a dovetail tenon 22 which is slidably mounted in the mortice. A ventilator aperture 8 provides a means also for opening and closing of the panel over the produce 2G. The inner ends I8 of the short boards furnish a support for such panel, or movable portion of the cover.

Flexible wire holding bails 23 are provided over the outer hoop I6 as abutments for retaining the panel 22 in closed position. The panel is provided with flexible latch clips II! at each end thereof and which normally project beyond such ends. a

In making the attachments the operator bends the ends of the clips downward, and bends the bails outward, then inserts the clip under the bail as shown in Figure '7.

The bails are then pressed against the hoops l6, and the clip ends turned up over the bail, The said last two parts however are shown as permanent attachments of the side boards 2|, by clip 24. The said boards 2| may in many cases be nailed or otherwise more permanently afiixed to the retainer. The balls 23, may be adjusted and held in position by bending the inner ends 23' and sliding the same up between the staves and hoops to be there retained by tension provided by the staples I6.

I am aware that containers have been described with entire covers slidable and removable between the side walls of containers, but such full covers when so removable cannot be rigidly attached to such sidewalls, and so fail to provide necessary rigidity to the container for shipments, and must be fully removed to permit necessary inspection of the goods contained. In my cover, the proper rigidity and containing strength is provided by the major portions of the covers being directly afiixed to the walls of the container, thus insuring against damage in transportation and assuring no loss of contents, while the narrow central panel for operation over the inspection window in the center, is suflicie'ntly connected to withstand shipments of the goods in safety against loss, and may be easily opened and closed by hand without tools therefor, and provide easy access for inspection of the goods at any time. It is therefore my special construotion that I desire to cover by my claim herewith.

Having described my invention, I claim as new: A container for farm produce comprising a receptacle with the opposite and major side portions of the top thereof covered by fixed boards in relatively narrow spaced relation, the inner edges of such side boards adapted to retain a central panel beneath the same, a relatively narrow central panel with the outer edges thereof slidably connected with the inner edges of such side boards, and adapted to be moved for uncovering produce for inspection, through the space between said boards over the center of such container, spacing bolsters beneath, abutments on the ends of the receptacle for retaining said panel .in closed position, and flat pliable clips on the ends of said panels for manual latching contact with such abutments to prevent dislodgement of such panel during transportation.

RINSAI MAEDA. 

